Electronic musical instrument with built-in tape recorder

ABSTRACT

A multichannel tape recorder and variously selectable switches on its recording and reproducing sides are connectable between each of keyboard circuits and the audio amplifier of an electronic musical instrument, whereby a large variety of operations and utilizations of the combination of the instrument and the tape recorder are afforded.

United States Patent 1 91 631 et al.'

1451 July 17, 1973 1 ELECTRONIC MUSICALINSTRUMENT WITH BUILT-IN TAPERECORDER 75 Inventors: Mikio 6 1; Yasuji Uchiyama, both of Hamakita-shi,Japan 731 Assignee: Nippon Gakki Seizo Kabushiki Kaieha, Hamamatsu-shi,Shizuoka-ken, Japan 221 Filed: May 8,1968 21 Appl. No.: 727,644

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data May 13, 1967 Japan 42/30093 May13, 1967 Japan 42/30094 [52] US. Cl..... 84/l.02, 84/D1G. 29 [51} int.Cl. GlOh 1/00 581 Field of Selrch mm? 84/DI G. 29, 2-5., 170-1.71, 461,462; 179/1001 A, 100.1 PS, 100.2

KEYBOARD CIRCUITS o l 'l TONE 12 GENERA'LORS 5 MIXER [56] ReferencesCited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,562,397 2/1971 Uchiyarna et al 84/1 .023,011,378 12/1961 l-lurvitz 84/1.02 3,197,543 7/1965 Williams... 84/].283,257,493 6/1966 Hurvitz 84/].02

Primary Examiner-Richard B. Wilkinson Assistant Examiner-Stanley J.Witkowski Attorney-Holman & Stern [57] ABSTRACT A multichannel taperecorder and variously selectable switches on its recording andreproducing sides are connectable between each of keyboard circuits andthe audio amplifier of an electronic musical instrument, whereby a largevariety of operations and utilizations of the combination of theinstrument and the tape recorder are afforded.

5 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures pmminammm 3.746.772

I SHEEI 1 UF 2 Fl G. l'

KEYBOARD CIRCUITS O 6 TONE 2 n /IIXER 565%? EOUDSPEAKER GENERAIORS 7 4AMPLIFIER -|2 9 SELECTOR DEVICE IO RECORDER REPRODUCER INVENTOR.

m. OG-I 57 Arr-cl. 1-! av:

PATEN IEU JUL 1 7 I875 3 T46 I T 2 SHEET 2 0F 2 KEYBOARD F I 3 CIRCUITS2 EXPRESSION 8 I ESIEJJEERATORS C NTROL LOUDSPEAKER f AMPLlFIER J4 9O-|2 SELECTOR LLLSDEWCE H "SELECTOR DEVICE 1 ELECTRONIC MUSICALINSTRUMENT WITH BUILT-IN TAPE RECORDER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Thisinvention relates generally to the field of electronic musicalinstruments and to the field of magnetic sound recording and reproducingdevices.

Heretofore, there have been no electronic musical instruments, as far aswe are aware, which are provided with built-in magnetic soundrecording-reproducing devices (hereinafter referred to as taperecorders). Accordingly, in order to record a musical rendition playedon an electronic musical instrument, it has been the practice in eachinstance to bring together the musical instrument and a separate taperecorder and to record the musical rendition as a combination of tonesof the various keyboards of the electronic musical instrument, therecorded music being reproduced by the tape recorder through itsloudspeaker.

Such a practice is mere recording and reproducing completed music and,moreover, entails difficulties in preparation and operation. Such apractice'may be satisfactory for mere appreciative listening toreproductions of recorded music or for simultaneous playing of theelectronic musical instrument or some other musispeaker of theinstrument thereby to render the signals thus recorded and reproduced asaudible sound.

According to the invention, in another aspect thereof, the tape recorderin the above described combination is a multichannel tape recorder, andselector means are also provided to select signals and combinations ofsignals reproduced by the tape recorder.

The nature, details, and utility of the invention will be more clearlyapparent from the following detailed description with respect topreferred embodiments of the invention, when read in conjunction withthe accompanying drawings, in which like parts are designated by likereference numerals.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS nization of one example of anelectronic musical instrucal instrument as the recorded music isreproduced, but

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention toovercome A the above described deficiency by providing an electronicmusical instrument of the type having plurality of keyboards andassociated circuits such as keying circuits and filter circuits, inwhich instrument at least one selector device and a tape recorder areconnectable between each of the keyboard circuits and the audioamplifier of the musical instrument.

A feature of the musical instrument of the invention is that the tonesproduced on each of the keyboards can be selected singly or incombinations by one selector device andrecorded to be subsequentlyreproduced through the expression control the amplifier and loudspeakerof the musical instrument.

According to the present invention, briefly summarized, there isprovided an electronic musical instrument of the type having a pluralityof keyboard circuits for producing respective keyboard signals andhaving at least an expression control, an amplifier and a loudspeakerfor rendering the keyboard signals as audible sound, characterized bythe combination therein and therewith of selector means for selectingdesired single signals and combinations of signals from the keyboardcircuits and a tape recorder for recording signals thus selected and forreproducing signals thus recorded and transmitting the same through theamplifier and loudment constituting an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an electrical connection diagram showing one example oforganization of the selector device of the instrument illustrated inFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the essential organization of anotherexample of an electronic musical instrument according to the invention;and

FIG. 4 is an electrical connection diagram showing one example oforganization of the selector devices and tape recorder device of theinstrument illustrated in FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring first To FIG. 1, the example of anelectronic musical instrument according to the invention shown thereinhas tone generators 0. for transmitting tone signals through switchesand filters provided within keyboard circuits 1, 2, 3, and 4 to a mixer5. The resulting combined output of the mixer 5 is passed through anexpression control 6, amplified by an amplifier 7, and radiated as soundby a loudspeaker 8. The parts of the instrument as described are ofknown organization and operation.

In accordance with the invention, in this example, a selector device 9and a tape recorder 10 are provided on the output sides of all keyboardcircuits of the above described electronic musical instrument so thattones from the keyboard circuits can be selected or combined as desiredand recorded. In addition, the output (reproduction) side of the taperecorder 10 is connected through a variable resistor 12 for outputadjustment to the aforementioned expression control 6.

The tone signals from the keyboard circuits, that is, upper keyboardtones from the upper keyboard circuit 1, lower keyboard tones from thelower keyboard circuit 2, pedal keyboard tones from the pedal keyboardcircuit 3, and percussion sounds from the percussion keyboard circuit 4,are supplied respectively to input terminals 21, 22, 23, and 24 of theselector device 9 (FIG. 2) and, selected or combined as desired byswitches 41, 42, 43, and 44 within the selector device. The tones thusselected or combined are sent through a common output terminal 25 to theinput (recording) side of the tape recorder 10 to be recorded.

The selector device 9 is further provided with variable resistors 31,32, 33, and 34 for input adjustment which are connected in seriesrespectively between the input terminals 21, 22, 23, and 24 and theswitches 41, 42,43, and 44. Thus, the magnitude of the input to the taperecorder can be adjusted for each keyboard tone signal.

The switches 41 through 44 and the variable resistors 31 through 34within the selector device 9, the variable resistor 12 for outputadjustment, and the drive control part of the tape recorder arecontrollably actuated by control actuators, such as levers and knobs,which are mounted on the front face or top face of the outer structureof the musical instrument in positions where they can be easilymanipulated by the player of the instrument.

While the tape recorder-i used in the musical instrument of theinvention may be of the open-reel type, a tape recorder of the cartridgetype (cassette type, or magazine type), which is of miniature size andcan be easily operated, is more suitable for the practice of theinvention.

While, in the example illustrated in FIG. 1, the tape recorder isprovided before (on the input side of) the expression control 6, analternative arrangement wherein expression controls operatingrespectively for the keyboard circuits 1 through 4 are also providedrespectively after these keyboard circuits, and the tape recorder 10 isprovided after the expression control may also be used.

Furthermore, it is possible, while playing the musical instrument andoperating the tape recorder 10 to record the music thus played, to passthe tones from the keyboard circuits 1, 2, 3, and 4 through the mixer 5the expression control 6, the amplifier 7, and the loudspeaker 8 therebyto render the music simultaneously as sound. Alternatively, it is alsopossible to play the musical instrument and render the music as sound inthe above described manner without operating the tape recorder 10.

By thus providing an electronic musical instrument with a selectordevice and a tape recorder in accordance with the invention, the tonesfrom the keyboard circuits can be selected or combined and recorded.Accordingly, it is possible, for example, to record a musical renditionresulting from a combination of tones from the keyboards and then toplay the musical instrument simultaneously as the rendition thusrecorded is reproduced, whereby a multiple ensemble or concert effectcan be rendered.

Furthermore, when the accompaniment of a musical piece is to bepracticed, it is possible, as the musical piece is fully played in thenormal manner with all keyboards, to record only the melody to become areference produced by a specific keyboard and then to practice theaccompaniment as this melody thus recorded is reproduced.

In this case, the tones of the accompaniment may be cut out completelyby means of a switch or they may be recorded in a manner such that theycan be heard faintly be adjusting the variable resistors 31 through 34for input adjustment. Then, during reproduction, playing in concert withthe recorded music can be practiced, in which case an even greatereffectiveness is afforded.

When the tape recorder is installed before the expression control as inthe example illustrated in FIG. 1, the input signals to the taperecorder are of constant level and are readily recorded. Furthermore,since the recorded tones are of constant volume, it is also possible topractice rendering of expression forte, piano,

crescendo, decrescendo wherein the volume control is operated.

On the other hand, when the tape recorder is provided after expressioncontrol devices to record volume-controlled tones, tones with expressionfully imparted thereto can be recorded. Therefore, by playing theelectronic musical instrument simultaneously in concert as the tonesthus recorded are reproduced or by reproducing the tones in concert witha natural (non-electronic) musical instrument, a multiple ensembleeffect can be rendered.

Moreover, even when a miniature tape recorder such as that of thecartridge type is used, reproduced music satisfactory in volume and tonequality for an electronic musical instrument can be produced since theamplifier and loudspeaker of the electronic musical instrument itself isutilized. At the same time, when the electronic musical instrument isplayed simultaneously as a previously recorded musical piece isreproduced, an extremely refined and deep musical feeling can be createdsince the tones from both sources are blended and rendered through oneand the same loudspeaker.

In addition, by positioning the various control actuators withinconvenient reach of the player of the electronic musical instrument, agreat variety of musical effects can be readily rendered and, moreover,easily varied even during the rendition of a musical piece.

In another embodiment of the invention as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4,musical effects which heretofore could not be attained are afforded byan organization wherein a multichannel tape recorder 10a is providedafter a number of keyboard circuits 1, 2, 3, and 4, the tones from whichare recorded in respective channels, and the signals thus recorded areselected or combined by a selector device 11 and reproduced. In otherrespects, this organization is similar to that of the preceding example.I

For selection or combination of the various keyboard tones, a selectordevice 9a for recording is provided before the multichannel taperecorder 10a thereby to afford selection as desired. This arrangementaffords convenience in that it is thereby possible to combine thevarious keyboard tones and to select unoccupied channels.

For the tape recorder 10a, a tape recorder of miniature type such as acartridge type (cassette type, or magazine type) or of the open-reeltype having from 4 to 8 channel positions is used and is so installedthat tones selected by the selector device 9a can be recorded in anyvacant channel of the tape recorder. Furthermore this multichannel taperecorder 10a is of a type wherein a single driving device drives asingle recording tape having therein multiple tracks for recording andreproducing.

The selector device 11 for reproduction is operated to accomplishselection whereby tones thus recorded in the multichannel tape recordercan be selected or reproduced simultaneously at will as necessary and isprovided after the tape recorder 10a.

In this example, also, it is possible to play the musical instrument inthe ordinary manner through the various keyboard circuits 1, 2, 3, and4, the mixer 5, expression control 6, amplifier 7, and loudspeaker 8without operating the multichannel tape recorder 10a. Furthermore, thecontrol actuators for accomplishing these operations are all mounted onthe structure of the electronic musical instrument at positions withineasy reach of the player, as in the preceding example.

The tones reproduced by the multichannelized tape recorder a arerendered as sound through the use of the amplifier 7 and loudspeaker 8of the electronic musical instrument with the expression control 6installed after the tape recorder 100 as shown in FIG. 3. Alternatively,a expression control for each keyboard circuit can be provided beforethe tape recorder 10a.

As in the preceding example, the output sides of the keyboard circuits 1through 4 are connected respectively to inlet terminals 21, 22, 23, and24 of the selector device 90. In the selector device 9a, as shown inFIG. 4, these inlet terminals are connected respectively throughvariable resistors 31, 32, 33, and 34 for adjustment of respectivelyrecording inputs to the movable contacts of recording input selectionswitches 41a, 42a, 43a, and 44a for selectively switching their inputsignals to any of the'channels of the multichannel tape recorder 10a.The movable contact of each of the selection switches 41a. through 44acan successively contact stationary contacts which are respectivelyconnected to different channels 51, 52, 53, and 54 of the multichanneltape recorder 10a.

Thus, tones from any of the keyboard circuits can be switched to any ofthe channels of the tape recorder 10a to be recorded.

The output (or reproducing) side of the channels 51 through 54 areconnected through respective variable resistors 61, 62, 63, and 64 forreproduction output adjustment and reproduction output switches 71, 72,73, and 74 to a common terminal 25a. The variable resistors 61 through64 are operable to adjust reproduced tones which have been recorded inthe channels 51 through 54, and the switches 71 through 74 are opera bleto select or combine tones thus adjusted. The terminal 25a is connectedthrough the varible resistor 12, expression control 6, and amplifier 7to the loudspeaker 8.

Furthermore, junctions between the variable resistors 61 through 64 andtheir respective reproduction output switches are connected torespective stationary contacts of a reproduction output feedbackselector switch 75. The movable contact of this sector switch 75 forselectively contacting the stationary contacts is connected through avariable resistor 66 for feed-back adjustment to the input (recording)side of a vacant channel (a fifth channel 55 in the example illustratedin FIG. 4). The output (reproduction) side of the channel 55 isconnected through a variable resistor 65 to the common terminal 25a.

Thus, the reproduction outputs adjusted by the variable resistors 61through 64 can be selected as desired and fed back, after furtheradjustment, to be recorded in channel 55. By thus recording andsimultaneously reproducing the above mentioned outputs and sending theresulting signals through the terminal 25 to be rendered as audiblesound through the loudspeaker 8 in I the same manner as describedhereinabove, it is possible to obtain an echo effect due to thepositional lag between the recording element and the reproducingelement.

Since, in the above-described example of the elec tronic musicalinstrument of the invention, selector devices and a multichannel taperecorder are incorporated within the musical instrument, it ispossibleto select recorded tones by means of the selector device forreproduction and to reproduce the tones of the various keyboards eitherseparately or simultaneously.

Furthermore, by providing the selector device for recording before thetape recorder, it is possible by operating the selector device to recordsignals produced from the various keyboard circuits so that the tonesfrom each keyboard circuit are recorded in a respective channel or sothat the tones from different keyboard circuits are combined andrecorded separately orsimultaneously.

Since complicated modes of recording and reproducing can be accomplishedin this manner, it is possible to achieve objects in musical practice ofa high degree in the musical sense, for example, by omitting only thekeyboard tones to be practiced and by recording and reproducing theother tones.

When the multichannel taperecorder 10a is placed before the expressioncontrol 6 as shown in FIG. 3, the level of the input into the taperecorder is constant, whereby recording is facilitated, and practiceinrendering expression by operating the expression control is possible.When, alternatively, an expression control is provided before the taperecorder for each keyboard circuit, tones with expression fully impartedthereto can be recorded.

Further features and advantages of the above described example of theinvention are similar to those of the preceding example illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 2.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing disclosurerelates to only preferred embodiments of the invention and that it isintended to cover all changes and modifications of the examples of theinvention herein chosen for the purposes of the disclosure, which do notconstitute departures from the spirit and scope of the invention as setforth in the appended claims.

What we claim is:

1. In an electronic musical instrument including a tone generator, aplurality of keyboard circuits connected thereto and having filters forproducing respective keyboard signals providing complete musical notesat respective keyboard outputs, an expression control having an inputand an output, the input being connected to receive said completemusical notes from the keyboard outputs, an amplifier having an inputand an output, the input being connected to the output of saidexpression control, and a loudspeaker connected to the output of saidamplifier for giving out said keyboard signals as audible sound, theimprovement comprising: a select means having inputs and an output, theinputs being connected to outputs of said plurality of keyboard circuitsfor selecting and delivering desired single signals and combinations ofsignals from said keyboard circuits; and a magnetic sound-recording andreproducing device connectable to the output of said selector means forrecording signals thus selected and for providing an output of therecorded signals; and means connecting the output from said magneticsound recording and reproducing device to the input of said expressioncontrol, whereby recorded signals can be reproduced from the instrumentwhen the instrument is being simultaneously played by operating saidplurality of keyboard circuits, and wherein a mixer device for frequencymixing is interposed and connected between the outputs of said pluralityof keyboard circuits and the input of said expression control, saidmagnetic recording and reproducing device along with said selector meansforming a series circuit connectable in parallel with said mixer device.

2. In an electronic musical instrument including a tone generator, aplurality of keyboard circuits connected thereto and having filters forproducing respective keyboard signals providing complete musical notesat outputs thereof, an expression control having an input and an output,the input being connected to receive said complete musical notes, anamplifier having an input and an output, the input being connected tothe output of said expression control, and a loudspeaker connected tothe output of said amplifier for giving out said keyboard signals asaudible sound, the improvement comprising in combination a multichannelmagnetic sound-recording and reproducing device having inputsconnectable to the outputs of said plurality of keyboard circuits forrecording said keyboard signals and for reproducing signals thusrecorded at outputs thereof; a selector means provided between thekeyboard outputs and the inputs of said magnetic sound recording andreproducing device, and between the outputs of said magnetic soundrecording and reproducing device and the inputs of said expressioncontrol, for respectively selecting single signals and combinations ofsignals from said keyboard outputs, and for transmitting reproducedselected signals to said expres-.

sion control; and wherein said selector means includes a switching meansconnected between the inputs and outputs of said magnetic soundrecording and reproducing device for selecting at least one of saidreproduced signals and for feeding back the same to a vacant channel ofthe multichannel sound recording and reproducing device.

3. In an electronic musical instrument including a tone generator, aplurality of keyboard circuits connected thereto and having filters forproducing respective keyboard signals providing complete musical notesat outputs thereof, at least one expression control having an input andan output, the input being connected to receive said complete musicalnotes, an amplifier having an input and an output, the input beingconnected to the output of said expression control, and a loudspeakerconnected to the output of said amplifier for giving out said keyboardsignals as audible sound, the improvement comprising in combination: aselector means having inputs and outputs, the inputs being connected tothe outputs of said plurality of keyboard circuits for selecting anddelivering desired single signals and combinations of signals from saidkeyboard circuit; and a multichannel magnetic sound-recording andreproducing device connectable to the output of said selector means forrecording signals thus selected and for providing an output of therecorded signals; and means connecting the output from said magneticsoundrecording reproducing device to the input of said expressioncontrol,-whereby recorded signals can be reproduced from the instrumentwhen the instrument is being simultaneously played by operating saidplurality of keyboard circuits, and wherein said instrument includes anadditional selector means connected at an output device for selectivelytransmitting one or more of selected channels into the input of saidexpression control.

4. The electronic musical instrument as claimed in claim 3 furthercomprising feedback means for returning at least part of the output ofsaid additional selector device to an input of said multichannelmagnetic sound recording and reproducing device.

5. In an electronic musical instrument including a tone generator, aplurality of keyboard circuits connected thereto and having filters forproducing respective keyboard signals providing complete musical notesat outputs thereof, at least one expression control having an input andan output, the input being connected to receive said complete musicalnotes, an amplifier having an input and an output, the input beingconnected to the output of said expression control, and a loudspeakerconnected to the output of said amplifier for giving out said keyboardas audible sound, the improvement comprising in combination: a selectormeans having inputs and outputs, the inputs being connected to theoutputs of said plurality of keyboard circuits for selecting anddelivering desired single signals and combinations of signals from saidkeyboard circuit; and a multichannel magnetic sound-recording andreproducing device connectable to the output of said selector means forrecording signals thus selected and for providing an output of therecorded signals; and means connecting the output from said magneticsoundrecording and reproducing device to the input of said expressioncontrol, whereby recorded signals can be reproduced from the instrumentwhen the instrument is being simultaneously played by operating saidplurality of keyboard circuits, and wherein a mixer device for frequencymixing is interposed and connected between the outputs of said pluralityof keyboard circuits and the input of said expression control, saidmultichannel magnetic recording and reproducing device along with saidselector means forming a series circuit connectable in parallel withsaid mixer device.

1. In an electronic musical instrument including a tone generator, aplurality of keyboard circuits connected thereto and having filters forproducing respective keyboard signals providing complete musical notesat respective keyboard outputs, an expression control having an inputand an output, the input being connected to receive said completemusical notes from the keyboard outputs, an amplifier having an inputand an output, the input being connected to the output of saidexprEssion control, and a loudspeaker connected to the output of saidamplifier for giving out said keyboard signals as audible sound, theimprovement comprising: a select means having inputs and an output, theinputs being connected to outputs of said plurality of keyboard circuitsfor selecting and delivering desired single signals and combinations ofsignals from said keyboard circuits; and a magnetic sound-recording andreproducing device connectable to the output of said selector means forrecording signals thus selected and for providing an output of therecorded signals; and means connecting the output from said magneticsound-recording and reproducing device to the input of said expressioncontrol, whereby recorded signals can be reproduced from the instrumentwhen the instrument is being simultaneously played by operating saidplurality of keyboard circuits, and wherein a mixer device for frequencymixing is interposed and connected between the outputs of said pluralityof keyboard circuits and the input of said expression control, saidmagnetic recording and reproducing device along with said selector meansforming a series circuit connectable in parallel with said mixer device.2. In an electronic musical instrument including a tone generator, aplurality of keyboard circuits connected thereto and having filters forproducing respective keyboard signals providing complete musical notesat outputs thereof, an expression control having an input and an output,the input being connected to receive said complete musical notes, anamplifier having an input and an output, the input being connected tothe output of said expression control, and a loudspeaker connected tothe output of said amplifier for giving out said keyboard signals asaudible sound, the improvement comprising in combination a multichannelmagnetic sound-recording and reproducing device having inputsconnectable to the outputs of said plurality of keyboard circuits forrecording said keyboard signals and for reproducing signals thusrecorded at outputs thereof; a selector means provided between thekeyboard outputs and the inputs of said magnetic sound recording andreproducing device, and between the outputs of said magnetic soundrecording and reproducing device and the inputs of said expressioncontrol, for respectively selecting single signals and combinations ofsignals from said keyboard outputs, and for transmitting reproducedselected signals to said expression control; and wherein said selectormeans includes a switching means connected between the inputs andoutputs of said magnetic sound recording and reproducing device forselecting at least one of said reproduced signals and for feeding backthe same to a vacant channel of the multichannel sound recording andreproducing device.
 3. In an electronic musical instrument including atone generator, a plurality of keyboard circuits connected thereto andhaving filters for producing respective keyboard signals providingcomplete musical notes at outputs thereof, at least one expressioncontrol having an input and an output, the input being connected toreceive said complete musical notes, an amplifier having an input and anoutput, the input being connected to the output of said expressioncontrol, and a loudspeaker connected to the output of said amplifier forgiving out said keyboard signals as audible sound, the improvementcomprising in combination: a selector means having inputs and outputs,the inputs being connected to the outputs of said plurality of keyboardcircuits for selecting and delivering desired single signals andcombinations of signals from said keyboard circuit; and a multichannelmagnetic sound-recording and reproducing device connectable to theoutput of said selector means for recording signals thus selected andfor providing an output of the recorded signals; and means connectingthe output from said magnetic sound-recording reproducing device to theinput of said expression control, whereby recorded signals can bereproduced fRom the instrument when the instrument is beingsimultaneously played by operating said plurality of keyboard circuits,and wherein said instrument includes an additional selector meansconnected at an output device for selectively transmitting one or moreof selected channels into the input of said expression control.
 4. Theelectronic musical instrument as claimed in claim 3 further comprisingfeedback means for returning at least part of the output of saidadditional selector device to an input of said multichannel magneticsound recording and reproducing device.
 5. In an electronic musicalinstrument including a tone generator, a plurality of keyboard circuitsconnected thereto and having filters for producing respective keyboardsignals providing complete musical notes at outputs thereof, at leastone expression control having an input and an output, the input beingconnected to receive said complete musical notes, an amplifier having aninput and an output, the input being connected to the output of saidexpression control, and a loudspeaker connected to the output of saidamplifier for giving out said keyboard as audible sound, the improvementcomprising in combination: a selector means having inputs and outputs,the inputs being connected to the outputs of said plurality of keyboardcircuits for selecting and delivering desired single signals andcombinations of signals from said keyboard circuit; and a multichannelmagnetic sound-recording and reproducing device connectable to theoutput of said selector means for recording signals thus selected andfor providing an output of the recorded signals; and means connectingthe output from said magnetic sound-recording and reproducing device tothe input of said expression control, whereby recorded signals can bereproduced from the instrument when the instrument is beingsimultaneously played by operating said plurality of keyboard circuits,and wherein a mixer device for frequency mixing is interposed andconnected between the outputs of said plurality of keyboard circuits andthe input of said expression control, said multichannel magneticrecording and reproducing device along with said selector means forminga series circuit connectable in parallel with said mixer device.